Cleaning machine utilizing non-liquid cleaning agents

ABSTRACT

Cleaning drapes, furs or other objects by the aid of powdered and/or granular cleaning agents involves a two part operation. During the first part of the cycle, the material to be cleaned and the cleaning agent are tumbled together in an oscillating drum. During the second part of the cycle, the cleaning agent is drawn off by vacuum. Tumble vanes in the drum are apertured whereby the vanes themselves serve as effluent conduits. Interior baffles in the tumble vanes keep the powdered and/or granular cleaning agent in the drum while the effluent conduits remain open. An efficient removal of the used cleaning agent is accomplished since the material cleaned cannot block all the effluent conduits.

United States Patent [191 Bochan [54] SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A WASHING MACHINE [45] Dec. 2, 1975 Primary Examiner- Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner- P. R. Coe

Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Frederick P. Weidner, et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A shifting nodal point, gyratory suspension system is provided for use in a vertical axis washing machine. A raised, planar portion of the base of the washing machine provides a horizontal surface upon which an annular bearing member is freely movable. A dishshaped member provided with an annular, spherical surface provides a mounting structure for movable portions of the washing machine to be suspended and is arranged to mate with a corresponding spherical surface on the annular bearing member. A plurality of springs resiliently bias the spherical dish to the washing machine base to provide centering such that the vertical axis of the suspended system rests in a normally vertical position. The springs also serve as vibrational damping force varying means.

[75] Inventor: John Bochan, Louisville, Ky.

[73 Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

22] Filed: June 20, 1974 [21] Appl. No: 481,210

[52] US. Cl 210/364 [51 Int. C1. D06F 23/04, D06F 37/24 [58] Field of Search 68/233; 210/144, 364;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,957,331 10/1960 Bruckman 68/233 3,132,098 5/1964 Bochan 68/233 X 3,269,544 8/1966 Brucken et a1 68/233 X 3,488,982 1/1970 Douglas 68/233 3,493,118 2/1970 Brucken 210/364 U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,922,892

- Illlll! a nun 3 1 L 3 e 38 3e a I Sheet 2 0f 2 US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A WASHING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a suspension system for use in a washing machine of the vertical axis type and more particularly, to a damped, shifting nodal point, gyratory suspension system which provides frictional surfaces to support the suspended assembly in such a vertical axis washing machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art has revealed various embodiments of damped, shifting nodal point, gyratory suspension systems for use in vertical axis washing machines. For example, US. Patent 3,026,700-Bochan, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses such a suspension system which is combined with a liquid seal. Therein is disclosed a washing machine wherein the center of gravity of the movable system being suspended is at or below the frictional surfaces of suspension system itself. However, with such a system, too much vertical cabinet space is used in the suspension system with little left for the washbasket.

US. Patent 2,797,569-Kirby discloses a washing machine having such a gyratory suspension system wherein tension springs carry the bulk of the suspended weight. US. Patent 3,269,544-Brucken et al. and US. Patent 3,493,118-Brucken each disclose shifting nodal point gyratory suspension systems wherein the center of gravity of the masses being suspended are above the bearing surfaces of the suspension systems. Patent No. 3,269,544 discloses an arrangement wherein the suspension system bearing surfaces are formed by the placement of a pair of concave dishlike surfaces face to face to each other with an annular movable bearing ring disposed between them, the bearing surfaces being spherical. Patent No. 3,493,118 discloses a suspension system wherein a pair of spherical dish-shaped members are arranged so that their convex bases bear upon a movable ring placed between them. With an arrangement as disclosed in these two patents, there can be no true lateral translation; any horizontal translation that occurs is a result of the combination movement of the two spherical surfaces with respect to the bearing rings.

It would be desirable to provide a damped, shifting nodal point, gyratory suspension system which exhibits two degrees of freedom: allowing horizontal translation of a vertical axis and pivoting of the vertical axis ideally about a point located somewhere above the center of gravity of the supported assembly. Such a system would be inherently stable allowing for the use of fairly light springs for varying the force on the damping means. A flat base is advantageous in that it is easier to make and the system is more easily centered thereon by lighter weight springs. and the use of lighter springs means less wear on the annular bearing ring.

By the present invention there is provided such a damped, shifting nodal point, gyratory suspension system for a vertical axis washing machine wherein one of the bearing surfaces is a planar, substantially machine. The second bearing surface is in the form of a concave spherical dish as viewed in top plan and which is separated from the planar base by an annular, movable, bearing ring. The supported assembly includes a movable mass in the washing machine suitably secured to the spherical dish such that in the preferred embodiment, the center of the spherical surface is above the center of gravity of the movable mass. A plurality of tension springs are provided located around the periphery of the spherical dish, the springs having one end secured to the spherical dish and the other end secured to the washing machine base, respectively, the springs thereby to serve as centering means and vibration damping varying means. In an alternate embodiment, two sets of tension springs are provided, one set being coupled between the spherical dish and the annular bearing surface and the second set being secured between the annular bearing ring and the washing machine base thereby providing damping force variation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided, in a vertical axis washing machine having a cabinet including a base and a movable mass including a rotatable basket and means for imparting oscillation and rotation to the movable mass, a damped, gyratory suspension system of the shifting nodal type for supporting the movable mass on the base. Included are a pair of relatively movable, engaging planar surfaces, one of the planar surfaces being rigidly secured substantially horizontally to the washing machine base. Also included are a pair of relatively movable engaging spherical surfaces, one of the spherical surfaces being secured coaxially concentric with the movable mass to the vertical axis thereof such that the center of gravity of the movable mass is above the engaging spherical surfaces. Means are provided concentrically interconnecting the two pairs of relatively movable surfaces for allowing controlled horizontal translation of the movable mass while maintaining the normally vertical axis thereof BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical, vertical-axis type washing machine incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the view being partly in section and partly broken away for clarity and taken along lines similar to lines 22 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 in a modified form and taken along lines 2 -2 of FIG.

4; and

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment of the suspension system of the present invention and taken along lines similar to lines 22 of FIG.4.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.2 taken along lines 4-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a washing machine of the vertical axis type which includes a cabinet 12 having a base portion 14 and a top portion 16. Cabinet top 16 includes a control panel 18 normally provided with a plurality of switches and controls necessary for the operation of the machine and which are normally coupled into the electrical circuitry thereof (not shown). Cabinet top 16 is provided with an access lid (not shown) normally hinged for movement between a closed position and an open position for gaining access into the machine for the placement therein of clothes to be washed. An outer, water retaining tub 20 is suitably secured atop a motor-drive mechanism 22 within the cabinet 12. A perforate wash basket 24 is suitably mounted within tub 20 for rotation about its vertical concentric axis.

Also normally provided is an agitator (not shown) also secured coaxially within wash basket 24 and arranged for oscillatory motion about its vertical axis.

In normal operation during a washing cycle, clothes to be washed are placed within wash basket 24 as are water and a suitable detergent. Wash action is. imparted to the clothes by oscillatory motion of the agitator, energy being supplied thereto by motordrive mechanism 22. After the wash operation, water is removed from the clothing by the centrifugal extraction process wherein the wash basket 24, including the wet clothes, is rotated at a high velocity about its central axis, rotational movement being supplied thereto by motor-drive mechanism 22. Suitable means (not shown) are also provided for draining this water from the tub 20.

Tub 20, rotatable wash basket 24, the agitator and motor-drive mechanism 22 constitute a movable mass within the cabinet 12 of the washing machine which'must be suitably suspended therein to prevent excessive vibration, traveling and possible destruction of operational components.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a damped, gyratory suspension system of the shifting nodal type for supporting the movable mass within the cabinet of the washing machine. A vertical shaft 26 has its top end suitably secured to motor-drive mechanism 22 such that the longitudinal axis of the shaft is aligned substantially coaxially with the movable mass and particularly tub 20 and wash basket 24. The lower end of vertical shaft 26 is suitably secured in a rigid fashion to a dish-like member 28 having an annular spherical surface 30 of radius R. Member 28, and thereby annular spherical surface 30, is arranged to be coaxially concentric with the movable mass through the vertical axis thereof, the center of spherical surface 30 of radius R being denoted as X in the drawing.

Dish-like member 28, and in particular spherical surface 30, in turn rests upon an annular bearing member 32 provided with a spherical surface 34 arranged to mate with spherical surface 30 of member 28. Spherical surfaces 30 and 34 then constitute a pair of relatively movable engaging surfaces. Annular bearing member 32 is also provided with a planar surface 36 in bearing engagement with a raised planar surface 38 formed as a portion of the base 14 of the cabinet 12. Planar surfaces 38 and 36 then constitute a second pair of relatively movable engaging surfaces, one of which is rigidly secured substantially horizontally to the washing machine base. Annular bearing member 32 then serves as a vibration damping, bearing member and constitutes means for concentrically interconnecting the two pairs of relatively movable surfaces for allowing controlled horizontal translation of the movable mass while maintaining the normally vertical axis thereof substantially vertical and further, for allowing pivotal movement of the movable mass about the center X of the spherical surface 30 as a node.

Means are provided for resiliently biasing spherical surface 30, in the form of a set of three tension springs 40 (only two of which are shown), for maintaining the two pairs of relatively movable surfaces normally concentric and coaxial with respect to one another and for assisting in maintaining the vertical axis of the movable mass in a normally substantially vertical position. In this preferred embodiment, three such springs 40 are provided equally spaced around the periphery of spherical surface 30. The springs 40 are coupled to the member 28 and thereby spherical surface 30 through boss members 42 rigidly secured to member 28. On the other end the springs 40 are coupled to boss members 44 rigidly secured to the base 14. Springs 40 serve as centering means and also as means for varying damping of vibration induced by rotation and oscillation of the movable mass.

In the washing machine hereinbefore described, the movable mass which includes tub 20, motor-drive mechanism 22, wash basket 24, the agitator water and the clothes being washed, has been designed such that its center of gravity is below point X, the center of spherical surface 30 but substantially above the engaging spherical surfaces 30 and 34. By the nature of this design, the suspended system is quite stable and springs of relatively low strength may be used to keep the movable mass centered and substantially upright. The provision of the planar surfaces 38 and 36 further facilitates centering of the suspended system by such springs.

With such a suspension system, when excited, the support shaft 26 and thereby the movable mass can move in either of two modes or in a combination of these two modes. In the first mode, the support shaft 26 can translate horizontally such that the vertical axis thereof and of the system always remains substantially vertical. In this case there is slippage between the lower surface 36 of annular bearing member 32 and the planar surface 38. In the second mode, support shaft 26 can pivot using the center X of the spherical surface 30 as a node. In this case, slippage will occur between surface 34 of the annular bearing member 32 and the spherical surface 30. In actuality, the motion of the support shaft 26 and thereby the vertical axis is a combination of these two modes and the annular bearing member 32 will have slippage at both its top and bottom faces 30 and 36, the node thereby freely moving to produce a shifting nodal point system; i.e., a pseudo node.

The critical or resonant frequency of the two modes of motion may, however, be different thereby requiring different damping forces. Referring to FIG. 2, there are shown two separate sets of springs 46 and 48 of three springs each arranged to create a separate damping force for each mode of motion for optimum operation. Springs 46 are secured at one end to boss member 42 on member 28 and on the other end to a boss 50 rigidly secured to annular bearing member 32. And likewise, springs 48 are coupled between boss member 50 and boss 44 secured to the base 14. Again, there are three springs 46 and 48 positioned around the periphery of spherical surface 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein a ball 52 provides a spherical surface 30' which movably engages a corresponding spherical surface 34 on an annular bearing member 32. An annular, planar surface 36 is provided as a component of bearing member 32 and is in movable engagement with the raised planar surface 38 of the base 14. With such an arrangement, vertical shaft 26 is formed as a portion of the ball 52 and centering is effected through two sets of three springs 46 and 48 (only two sets of which are shown). Springs 46' are secured at one end to vertical shaft 26 and thereby spherical surface through a set of three bosses 42 rigidly secured around the periphery of shaft 26 and on the other end to bosses 50' rigidly secured to bearing member 32. Likewise, springs 48 are coupled between boss member 50 and boss 44 secured to base 14. A difference in this arrangement is that the center of the spherical surface 30 is substantially below the center of gravity of the movable mass with the result that springs 46 and 48' must be stiffer than those hereinbefore described because it is inherently less stable.

In the preferred embodiment, annular bearing member 32 has its bearing surfaces 34 and 36 formed of a material having lubricity such as polytetrafluoroethylene which has been found to be suitable for this application. Planar surface 38 and member 28 may be made of any suitable material such as steel. It should of course be understood that four or more springs or sets thereof may be used and that three is an absolute minimum. It has also been contemplated that the springs may be coupled in other manners, as for example to the base of the motor-drive mechanism housing.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment described heretofore is considered to be the presently preferred form of this invention. In accordance with the Patent Statutes,

changes may be made in the disclosed apparatus and the manner in which it is used without actually departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vertical axis washing machine having a cabinet including a base and further having a movable mass including a rotatable basket and means for imparting oscillation and rotation to the movable mass, a damped, gyratory suspension system of the shifting nodal type for supporting the movable mass on the base, comprising:

a pair of relatively movable engaging planar surfaces, one of the planar surfaces being rigidly secured substantially horizontally to the washing machine base;

a pair of relatively movable engaging spherical surfaces, one of the spherical surfaces. being secured coaxially concentric with the movable mass through the vertical axis thereof such that the center of gravity of the movable mass is above the engaging spherical surfaces;

means concentrically interconnecting the two pairs of relatively movable surfaces for allowing controlled horizontal translation of the movable mass while maintaining the normally vertical axis thereof substantially vertical and for allowing pivotal movement of the movable mass about the center of the spherical surface as a node; and

means for resiliently biasing the spherical surface coupled with the movable mass for maintaining the two pairs of relatively movable surfaces normally concentric and coaxial with respect to one another including a first set of tension springs secured on one end to the spherical surface coupled with the movable mass and on the other end to the interconnecting means and a second set of tension springs secured on one end to the juncture of the first set of springs with the interconnecting means and on the other end to the washing machine base, said first and second sets of tension springs being equally spaced and at least at three points around the periphery of the spherical surfaces, and for maintaining the vertical axis of the movable mass in a normally substantially vertical position, the resiliently biasing means also serving as a means for varying damping of vibration induced by rotation and oscillation of the movable mass.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of the movable mass is below the center of the spherical surface and above the spherical surface.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the concentrically interconnecting means is an annular ring having a flat annular surface serving as one of the planar surfaces to engage the other rigidly secured planar surface, the annular ring having an annular spherical surface serving as one of the spherical surfaces to engage the other spherical surface secured to the movable mass, the annular ring serving as a vibration damping, bearing member. 

1. In a cleaning machine for use with powdered and/or granular cleaning agents: a. a cleaning drum having a front air influent opening; b. means supporting the cleaning drum for angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis; c. means forming an enclosure for the drum, including an access door registering with said drum front opening; d. said door having openings for admission of air to the drum; e. means operable to exhaust air from said enclosure; f. a plurality of hollow tumble vanes in the drum and extending inwardly from the periphery of the drum; said tumble vanes having a series of openings for flow of air and entrained cleaning agents from the drum to the interior of the tumble vanes; g. means forming effluent openings at the region of the bases of the tumble vanes and providing communication between the interior of the tumble vanes and said enclosure at the periphery of said drum; and h. baffle plates in said tumble vanes for gravity return of cleaning agent to the interior of said drum in the absence of a current of air induced by said air exhausting means.
 2. The cleaning machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said tumble vanes have surfaces on opposite sides, at least one of which is provided with said openings in an array extending only partially from the base of said one surface toward the distal end of the tumble vane; the said baffle plates extending in spaced relationship behind said array of holes to form a trap for entering cleaning agent, the trap opening beyond the array of holes.
 3. The cleaning machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said door comprises a pair of spaced plates with louver-like openings formed by stamped regions adjoining lances in the plates, the inner plate having stamped regions projecting inwardly to shield the edges of the lances from the material in the drum; the louver-like openings in the respective plates being oriented so that cleaning agent impinging on the inner plate is directed to return to the drum and so that the material impinging upon the outer plate is directed to return to the space between the plates.
 4. The cleaning machine as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said baffle plates extends behind one side of the corresponding tumble vane with a proximal edge on the same side of the corresponding effluent opening as said one tumble vane side with a distal edge located radially inwardly and in spaced relationship to the baffle plate; said one tumble vane side having said openings in an array all of which openings lie opposite the baffle plate whereby cleaning agent entering the Tumble vane via the openings is trapped by the baffle plate and returned to the drum via the openings upon continued angular movement of the drum.
 5. In a cleaning machine for use with powdered and/or granular cleaning agents: a. a cleaning drum having a circular edge forming front air influent opening; b. means supporting the cleaning drum for angular movement about a substantially horizontal axis; c. means forming an enclosure for the drum, and having a frontal opening registering with and surrounded by said drum opening, the said circular edge of said drum located in close proximity to said enclosure to form a substantially sealed relationship thereto; d. an access door for said enclosure opening, and itself having air passages therethrough for entry of air into the drum; an air pump operable to exhaust air from said enclosure following a cleaning cycle; f. a plurality of tumble vanes in the drum of generally triangular cross-sectional configuration, each tumble vane having surfaces on opposite sides, one of which is provided with an array of openings for entry of air into the tumble vane; g. said drum having effluent openings at the periphery thereof and located at the bases of said tumble vanes for registry with the interior spaces thereof; h. and a baffle plate for each tumble vane and located behind the array of openings to form a trap for cleaning agent entering the tumble vane, and having a distal edge located to prevent direct movement of cleaning agent to corresponding effluent opening; said baffle forming a trough at the periphery of the drum when the tumble vane is near the top of the drum, the distal edge of the baffle ensuring shuttling of cleaning agent across the openings inside the tumble vane upon rotation of the tumble vane for return of cleaning agent to the drum. 